Thursday, May 27, 2010

Remembering

My father was a veteran of the Korean War and in the last years of his life he was very involved with his local American Legion Post.

My sons and I would drive up to New Jersey this weekend every year to watch him march with his unit's Color Guard in Memorial Day parades.

It always meant a lot to him that we were there and it's a strong memory my boys still have of their grandfather.

After he passed away I found a yellowed newspaper clipping with his handwritten notes on it in his personal papers. He was proud to be a veteran. I'm proud to share the contents of that clipping that must have meant so much to him:

It is the

VETERAN,

Not the preacher,

Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is

The VETERAN,

Not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is

The VETERAN,

Not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is

The VETERAN

Not the campus organizer,

Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is

The VETERAN

Not the lawyer,

That has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is

The VETERAN

Not the politician,

That has given us the right to vote.

It is

The VETERAN

Who Salutes the Flag

It is

The VETERAN

Who Serves Under the Flag

And at life's end, whose coffin is draped by the flag.

God Bless America!

(Adapted from a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC)(Photo of my boys and father from 2002)

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